You asked

how does paul's view of the law compare with jesus's statements about fulfilling the law?

The passage, plainly, with room to sit with it.

Romans 3:20

“because by the works of the law no flesh will be justified in his sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.”

The Apostle Paul, writing to believers in Rome in the mid-first century CE, is explaining how people become righteous in God's eyes. He argues that following the Law given to Moses does not make someone righteous, but rather reveals how far short they fall.

What does it mean for you to understand your own shortcomings, and where do you find your sense of being made right?

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Matthew 5:17
Jesus states he came not to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it, offering a different perspective on the Law's enduring significance.
Galatians 2:16
Paul reiterates that justification comes through faith in Christ, not by works of the Law, emphasizing a consistent theme in his letters.
Romans 7:7
Paul further explains that the Law itself is not sin, but it highlights and exposes sin, which is the point of Romans 3:20.

Ask your own follow-up